Buena Vista University
Storm Lake, IA
Buena Vista University (BVU) is a private university located in Storm Lake, Iowa, United States. Established in 1891, BVU has a long and rich history of providing quality education to its students. It offers a wide range of undergraduate programs in various disciplines, as well as several graduate programs.
At Buena Vista University, students benefit from a close-knit community and a supportive learning environment. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10:1, students are able to receive personalized attention from their professors. The university focuses on experiential and hands-on learning, encouraging students to apply their knowledge in real-life situations through internships, research opportunities, and community engagement.
BVU is committed to helping students develop into well-rounded individuals. Along with their academic pursuits, students are encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities, including athletics, student organizations, and the arts. The university also emphasizes the importance of service and leadership, providing numerous opportunities for community service and campus involvement. Graduates of BVU are well-prepared for their future careers, as the university's career services department offers exceptional support in terms of professional development, job placement, and networking opportunities. Overall, Buena Vista University provides a comprehensive education that prepares students for success in their personal and professional lives.
Located in Storm Lake, IA, Buena Vista University is a private comprehensive higher education institution. Its campus spans 60 acres. This institution follows a 4-1-4 calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 77%. The freshman retention rate at Buena Vista University is 75.5% and the six-year graduation rate is 58%.
Discover more about what you can expect if you get into Buena Vista University.
Quick Facts
791
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
77%
Acceptance Rate
$40,190
Tuition
12:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
58%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
You need to learn as much as you can about the entrance requirements of the institution in order to improve your chances of being accepted. Check out some vital info about admission at Buena Vista University.
According to the newest data, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 1,183 in 2023. Buena Vista University has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores for the applicants who choose to submit them. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
Out of the number of applicants who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 3% and ACT scores 57%. 14% of the enrolled students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 57% between 1,000 and 1,199 and 29% of the students between 800 and 999. The percent of new students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 7, 23 between 24-29, 60 in the range between 18-23, and 10 between 12-17.
The average ACT score for all the enrolled students in 2023 was 22 while the average GPA was 3.49. That means you'll most likely need an above-average GPA to get accepted as well as an above-average ACT score.
Retention Rate
What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic year. Why is that information important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
As reported in 2023, the freshman retention rate for Buena Vista University was 75.5%, indicative of the exceptional educational experience and supportive environment at this school.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. This academic institution has the six-year graduation rate of 58%.
Student Body
Making the choice of which school is the right place for you is not easy. You can better comprehend the culture and life of the school by finding out more about the student body.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at Buena Vista University in 2023 was 1,290.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 34% for that year. There was a total of 791 those pursuing undergraduate studies, including 9 international students. 34 students enrolled as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 394 male and 375 female full-time students in 2023. 0 full-time graduate men and 9 full-time graduate women attended this school.
Student Population Diversity
Higher Education is dedicated to increasing student diversity and enhancing students' feelings of inclusion and belonging. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
This school had 8 Asian students and 29 Afro-American students in 2023. 105 students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 21 as multirace. The school also had 2 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 6 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 27 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Financial planning for school is one of the most important things to consider before you apply. Here are some important data on Buena Vista University costs that most students encounter at this school.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at Buena Vista University? Here is what you need to know.
Tuition fees per academic year for full-time domestic students were $40,190 in 2023. Since Buena Vista University is a private institution, tuition is the same for all the accepted students.
Books and Supplies
Another important expense to take into consideration is the approximate cost of books and supplies for a college or university. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,126.
Boarding
When choosing a college, you should factor in the price of a dorm room and meals at the school cafeteria. How much do room and board fees average around at colleges and universities?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at Buena Vista University was $10,896 in 2023. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2023 came to $5,266 for one academic year.
| Tuition | $ 40,190 |
| Room and Board | $ 10,896 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,126 |
| Total Expense | $ 52,212 |
Financial Aid
Getting some financial support in forms of grants, loans, scholarships or work-study programs can be vital for completing your studies. If you wish to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Buena Vista University, here are some recent data you should consider.
The most recent records show that 202 freshmen received some sort of financial help. The average financial aid package awarded to students equaled $32,846.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
There were 638 students who secured need-based financial aid of any kind. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need came to be 641. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution summed up to $1,719,141, and state $2,186,370. The students of Buena Vista University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $14,421,056, and external in the amount of $343,522.
$23,904
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
138 students, including freshmen, obtained institutional non-need-based financial aid at this institution in 2023. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 38 full-time freshmen. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $1,719,141 while the state aid is $288,074. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $3,727,998. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $127,351 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Open Applications
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Majors
Faculty
12:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio is the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Buena Vista University was 12:1: that means 12 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. The faculty of this school consists of 55 members, according to the most recent data reported. This number included 40 male and 51 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school is telling of the importance gender equality has at Buena Vista University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at Buena Vista University is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Find out some details about social life at Buena Vista University.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
This school has 47 open-membership student organizations you can participate in. The student organization that attracts the greatest number of students is Student Mobilizing Outreach and Volunteer Efforts, followed by Student Senate and Esprit De Corps. Other popular organizations among the students at Buena Vista University are Orientation Team and Student Activities Board.
Students who have a talent for music can join the Buena Vista University band or chorus. Interested in media and communication? Buena Vista University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At Buena Vista University, there are many amenities that make life on campus pleasant and safe.
There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. The school has electronically operated dormitory entrances. The transport/escort service operates during late hours.
This school has a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. All in all, campus life at Buena Vista University is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Buena Vista University.
Career Counselling
At Buena Vista University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be highly beneficial for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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Buena Vista University is located in Storm Lake, IA.
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According to the latest information, the tuition for Buena Vista University is 40,190 USD a year.
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This school has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Buena Vista University is 77%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for Buena Vista University is 75.5%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.